What is the difference between Premium, Specialized and IANG? Which one should you apply for if you want to get Hong Kong status

Want to know what is the difference between the three types of visas of Hong Kong Merit, Specialized and IANG, and which one you should apply for if you want to take Hong Kong identity?

I think, in the planning of Hong Kong identity this matter, many friends have the same kind of questions. Today, we will talk to you in detail about the difference between Premium, Specialized and IANG, so that you can find the most suitable way to get working visa extension hong kong.

1. The nature of the visa

Merit Scheme: The Hong Kong Government launched the Merit Scheme to attract highly skilled or talented people from all over the world to settle in Hong Kong, in order to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness. Therefore, the meritocracy is considered a kind of skilled immigration, and the United States of America's EB-1A, Australia's Global Talent Independence Program, Japan's highly talented people visa is similar.

Specialized Talent Scheme: Unlike the Premium Talent, the STS aims to attract Mainland Chinese residents with special skills, knowledge or experience needed but lacking in Hong Kong to take up employment in Hong Kong, and is a working visa. Applicants are required to obtain prior employment with a Hong Kong employer before coming to Hong Kong.

IANG: The full name of the IANG visa is the Arrangement for Non-local Graduates to Remain in Hong Kong/Return to Hong Kong for Employment (ARTE), so it is clear that this is also a work visa. However, the IANG is a "relaxed work visa" compared to the Specialist visa. As for the extent of the relaxation, we will talk about it later.

2. Assessment Criteria

Merit Program: There are two types of scoring systems for talented people: the merit-based system and the comprehensive scoring system. Among them, for applicants with the merit points system, the Immigration Department will focus on the applicant's achievements during the audit, such as whether the applicant has won Olympic medals, Nobel Prizes, as well as national international awards; or whether you have made an important contribution to your industry, such as being awarded the industry's Lifetime Achievement Award. The Immigration Department will take into account the age, education level, working experience, language proficiency and other criteria of applicants under the Comprehensive Points Scoring System. Regardless of whether the Achievement Scoring System or the Comprehensive Scoring System is chosen, the Immigration Department's examination is always centered on the individual applicant.

Specialized Talent Scheme: According to the Immigration Department's regulations, before coming to Hong Kong, a specialized applicant needs to be employed by a Hong Kong employer in Hong Kong, China, and the job must be related to his/her academic qualifications or work-life experience as well, and we cannot easily find Hong Kong locals to take up the job. Therefore, for the application of professionals, the Immigration Department will not only examine the personal information of the applicant (including the following academic qualifications and past work and study experience), but also focus on the sponsor - the employer's responsible company's industry background, business situation, development plans, whether the position being recruited is indeed difficult to find suitable local people to take up the position. etc. As far as U-Talent knows, many of our friends who applied for specialization were rejected because their employer companies did not meet the vetting requirements of the Immigration Department.

IANG: The vetting standard of IANG is similar to that of professional talents, but it is much more lenient than that of professional talents. IANG visa is divided into two categories: fresh non-local graduates who stay in Hong Kong and non-local graduates who return to Hong Kong (non-local graduates refer to non-local students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or a higher qualification by pursuing a full-time course of study in Hong Kong).

According to the Immigration Department (ImmD), fresh non-local graduates who wish to stay and work in Hong Kong need to submit an application to the ImmD within six months from the date of graduation (that is, the date stated on the graduation certificate). When submitting an application, the applicant does not need to be employed by a Hong Kong company first, and as long as he or she meets the general immigration requirements (for example, no criminal record, and so on), he or she will be allowed to stay in Hong Kong for 12 months.

For non-local graduates returning to Hong Kong for employment, as long as they are employed by a Hong Kong employer, the job they are employed to do is usually taken up by the degree holder, and the remuneration package is up to the market level, there will basically not be too many problems in obtaining approval for their applications.

3. Mode of Visa Renewal

Merit Scheme: Those who apply for Merit under the Achievement-based Points Scoring System (APPS) and are approved will normally be granted a one-off permission to stay in Hong Kong for 8 years, and will be able to apply for permanent residence in Hong Kong after completing 7 years, during which there is no need to renew their visas. For those who are approved under the General Points Scoring System (GPS), the renewal of their visas will normally be granted in the form of "2+3+3" (2+6 for top talents), and they will be able to apply for permanent residence in Hong Kong upon completion of the seven-year period.

Specialized Talent Scheme: Specialized Talent visas are generally granted in the form of "2+3+3" or according to the validity period of their employment contracts (whichever is shorter) (2+6 for top talents). However, note that if you are not working at the time of renewal, you will not be able to renew your visa.

IANG: IANG renewals are generally granted in the form of "1+2+2+3".

4. Extension of Stay

QMAS: Persons admitted to Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) may apply to the Immigration Department for an extension of stay not later than four weeks before the expiry of the first two-year limit of stay, subject to the provision of relevant supporting documents, such as documents showing intention to settle in Hong Kong and to make contribution to Hong Kong. The Immigration Department does not have hard and fast residence requirements for those who come to Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and they are free to work.

Specialized Talent Scheme: Specialized Talent entrants are also required to apply for extension of stay within 4 weeks before the expiry of the first 2 years, and are required to provide relevant supporting documents, including employment contracts, work certificates issued by companies, etc. Persons entering Hong Kong through professionals can only take up employment approved by the Director of Immigration. If they need to change jobs, they have to obtain prior approval from the Director of Immigration (top professionals only need to notify the Immigration Department in writing). As regards residence, the ImmD does not impose any requirement on the minimum number of days of stay in Hong Kong in a year for persons admitted as professionals. However, as professionals are working visas, from the ImmD's point of view, they would consider that the appointees should be mainly engaged in the relevant work in Hong Kong rather than outside Hong Kong or in the Mainland.

IANG: The conditions for extension of stay for IANGs are similar to those for professionals. Again, they need to be sponsored by a Hong Kong employer and provide supporting documents such as employment contract and proof of employment to the ImmD. However, IANGs are free to take up and change jobs during their authorized period of stay without the need to obtain prior approval from the Director of Immigration.